A Series of Studies on the foundational Doctrines of the Gospel

Part I You were Dead (Ephesians 2:1)

I.1 Dead in SIN: our moral state

Introduction: The offenders’ offense

1. The Original Choice

a) The option of life

b) The choice of death

• Favour and communion with God was withdrawn
• Death became a reality
• Adam became totally depraved

c) The three “cannots”

• Will: cannot come (John 6:44)
• Mind: cannot see (2 Corinthians 4:4)
• Behaviour: cannot act (Romans 7:18)

“There remains no recuperative element in the soul.” A.A.Hodge

2. Original Sin

a) Sinful disposition

“In that first man, all are understood to have sinned, because all were in him when he sinned; whereby sin is brought in with birth and not removed save by new birth.” St.Augustine

b) Imputed guilt

Conclusion: Diagnosis determines treatment

a) The diagnosis

• Pelagianism says “Man is healthy”
• Semi-Pelagianism says “Man is sick”
• The Bible says “Man is dead” (Romans 5:12)

b) The treatment

• If we acknowledge the fact that we’re dead, the gospel offers us life
• If we acknowledge the fact that we’re dead in Adam, the gospel offers us the prospect of being alive in Christ.